Copyholder attachment for typewriter



Oct. 7, 1958 Filed July 14, 1954 0. J. GOULD 2,854,951

COPYHOLDER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY&M%N V EN YTOR.

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ATTORNEYS.

1958 o. J. GOULD COPYHQLDER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITER 3 Sheets-SheetBFiled July 14, 1954 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O C(I PiHOL-DER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITER I OscarI. Gould, Cincinnati, Ohio Application July 14, M54, Serial No. 443,305Claims. (Cl. 120-32) This invention relates to a device for facilitatingthe copying of written material and is particularly directed to a deviceadapted to be attached to a typewriter for supporting the sheet beingcopied.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my applicationSerial No. 310,331 which was filed September 18, 1952, now abandoned.

Various devices have previously been proposed for holding a sheet ofwritten material while it is being copied on a typewriter. In generalthese devices are either too bulky and complex, or too inconvenient, ortoo unreliable in operation to provide a satisfactory solution to theproblem of supporting material being copied.

The present invention is predicated upon the concept of mounting acompact, lightweight, copyholder directly on the bail bar of atypewriter. The copyholder is adapted to support a sheet being copied,hereafter referred to as the copy sheet, in such a manner that the lineto be typed is positioned directly in front of the typist.

The present copyholder is adapted for either automatic or manualoperation. When the copyholder is adjusted for automatic operation thecopy sheet is advanced through the copyholder in amounts equal to theadvancements of the paper being typed over the platen. As a result, forevery line on the sheet being typed, the corresponding line to be copiedis always positioned in the copyholder where it can be most readilyobserved by the typist. When adjusted for manual operation, the copysheet is advanced independently of the movement of the sheet being typedover the typewriter platen and any line of the copy sheet may be broughtinto view without disturbing the sheet being typed.

More particularly, a copyholder constructed in accordance with thisinvention includes a pair of end brackets which are mounted upon thebail bar of a typewriter.

Each of the end brackets is provided with a floating bearing and meansfor adjusting the position of the bearing relative to the bail bar. Acopy roll is fitted over a shaft journaled in the two floating bearingsand is disposed for frictional engagement with the two bail rollers,which in turn normally engage the typewriter platen. The copy roll isthus driven at the same surface speed as the platen.

The copy sheet is passed between the bail rolls and copy roll, aroundthe copy roll, and then extends rearwardly. Preferably some means areprovided for holding the copy sheet against the forward surface of thecopy roll so that the sheet presents a smooth, wrinkle free, surface. Inoperation, the copy paper is inserted in the copyholder, so that thefirst'line to be copied rests on the forward edge of the copy'roll.After this line has been copied, the typewriter platen is turned in theusual manner, and the copy sheet is advanced by the same amount asthesheet being typed; that is, if the latter sheet is advanced a singlespace, the copy sheet will move a single space, and if the sheet is feddouble space, the copy sheet will advance a double space each time theplaten is stepped ahead.

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Hence, the typist may operate the typewriter in the usual manner and thesheet which she is copying will automatically be positioned so that eachline to be copied is brought into view as needed.

One of the principal advantages of the present invention is thereliability of the copyholder operation. The device is rigidly mountedupon the bail roll, and cannot be Vibrated or displaced by the severejarring which accompanies shifting of the carriage back and forth. Thecopyholder advances the copy sheet evenly without skewing or bunching,and when set for automatic operation, always in amounts equal to theadvances of the copy sheet over the platen. As a result the proper lineis always brought into registry with the copy roll each time the platenis stepped forward and the operator need not take time to straighten outthe copy sheet after it has been moved a few lines. This reliableoperation is largely due to the securing of the copyholder directly tothe bail bar so that the copyholder does not slip, slide or bouncerelative to the bail rollers while the typewriter is in operation.

One of the principal objectives of the present invention is to provide acopyholder, which in addition to be reliable in operation, does notinterfere with the normal operation of the typewriter. Obtaining africtional drive from the platen through the bail rolls to the copyroll, which will always advance the copy sheet precisely the correctamount, requires a relatively sensitive adjustment of the pressurebetween these rolls. Otherwise, the copy roll will either slip, in whichcase the copy sheet will not be advanced sufiiciently to bring the lineto be copied in proper registry with the roll, or if too much pressureis applied, the bail rolls will be retarded causing bunching of thesheet being typed as well as irregular advancement of the copy paper.

This objective has been achieved firstby providing a copyholderattachment which is of extremely lightweight so that a minimum dead loadis applied to the bail rollers; and secondly, by providing adjustablefloating bearings for the copy roll by means of which the relativespacing of the bail rolls and copy roll can readily be varied to securethe optimum amount of frictional engagement. The floating bearings canbe shifted by merely turning two screws, so that after periods of longusage, the typist can compensate for wear or other changing conditionsto maintain the copyholder in perfect operating condition at all times.

Another advantage of the present invention, is that the copyholder canbe installed on any typewriter having a conventional bail roll assembly.Whether the copyholder is mounted on a portable, a standard typewriter,or on a machine having an extra long carriage, the same component partsare employed, except that the length of the copy roll shaft may have tobe increased to fit extremely wide carriages. Furthermore, theconstruction of the copyholder and the manner in which it is attached tothe bail bar facilitates the copying of sheets which are ofsubstantially the same width as the maximum width sheet which can beaccommodated by the carriage.

Other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following detailed description of the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a typewriter platen and a bailbar having a copyholder device of the present invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the modified embodiment of thecopyholder.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of an additional modification of thecopyholder.

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing an adidtional modified form ofthe copy holder device mounted in place upon the bail bar of atypewriter, the typewriter being shown fragmentarily only.

Figure 11 is an end elevational view of the copyholder device shown inFigure 10.

Figure 1 shows a preferred form of copyholder, to- 'gether with theparts of a typewriter with which it cooperates. As there shown, thecopyholder includes two end brackets 10-10 which fit over the bail bar11 of a typewriter and carry a copy roll 12, over which the sheet beingcopied is'passed. "Copy roll '12 normally resides in frictionalengagement with bail rolls '13'13 and is ro tated in accordance with themovements of typewriter platen1'4,the' movements of the platen beingfrictionally transmitted to the copy roll through the bail rolls.

More particularly, end brackets 1010 are constructed of -any suitablelightweight material, such as plastic, aluminum, or brass, and areprovided with a lower transverse opening-15, (Figure 3) through whichbail bar 11 is fitted. The end brackets may be mounted in any suitableposition along the bail bar and are locked in place by means of setscrews 16 which are threaded through the end brackets and bear againstthe bail bar. Each end bracket 10 is provided with a floating bearingblock 17 for iournalling shaft 18 upon-which is mounted copy roll 12Each of the bearing blocks is supported for reciprocating movementwithin slideway 20 of its associated end bracket, side surfaces 21--21of the slideway restraining the plug for movement longitudinally of thebracket. A spring 22 is fitted in recess 23 of the block and in asimilar recess 24 of the bracket. This spring is normally compressed bythe block, and is effective to urge it outwardly against set screw 26which is threaded in the outer end of the bracket.

Suitable thrust bearings 27--27 are provided on shaft 18 for preventinglongitudinal displacement of the shaft. Copy roller 12 may be mountedupon shaft 18 in any suitable manner, for example by press fitting and,is preferably constructed of a material having a relatively highcoefficient of friction such as rubber, a fiber impregnated composition,or the like. A-knob 28 is mounted on one end of copy roll shaft 18 forhand operation of the copyholder, in a manner to be explained more fullybelow. Two spring, paper-holding clips 3030 are also mounted on bail bar11. These clips are constructed of a resilient material, and include aloop 31 having a surface 32 in engagement with the straight edge of thebail bar for preventing rotating movement of the clip about the bar.Each of the clips carries a stay roller 33 rotatably mounted on pin 34.The stay rollers are lightly urged against the copy roll, and functionto hold the sheet of copy paper firmly against that roll, therebycausing the sheet to present a smooth surface, the printing on which isreadily visible.

In operation, copy paper 35 is inserted under the copy roll 12, betweenthat roll and the bail rolls 13. The copy sheet is then passed aroundroll 12 and is allowed to extend freely behind the roll, just as thesheet being typed extends beyond the platen. The copy paper is heldfirmly against the front face of roll 12 by means stay rolls 33 carriedby the spring clips. The first line to be copied can be brought intoposition on the forward portion of the copy roll, where it is readilyvisible, in one of two ways. If desired, the sheet being typed 36 can beinserted in the typewriter in the normal manner, and the 4 bail barlowered to its operative position by means of conventional brackets 37.In this position the bail rolls 13 frictionally engage sheet 36, and arethereby rotated along with the typewriter platen when it is turnedmanually or by means of the spacing lever. To bring the desired line onthe copy sheet into registry with the forward edge of roll 12, theplaten is turned, driving bail rolls 13 and the copy roll; this iscontinued until the copy sheet has advanced the desired amount.Thereafter, as the paper is typed, the copy sheet is advanced an amountequal to the advance of paper over platen 14, and the line to be copiedis always disposed along the copy roll when the corresponding space onthe sheet being typed is in registry with the platen.

Alternatively, if the copyholder is to be operated manually, the bailbar is shifted to its forward, stable position out of engagement withthe platen. The copy sheet is inserted between the bail rolls and thecopy roll, and is passed over the copy roll in the same manner asbefore. However, for manual operation, knob 28 is turned to rotate thecopy roll and advance the copy sheet until the desired line is inregistry with the forward portion of roll 12. Manual operation isessential where the spacing of the copy sheet, and the sheet beingtyped, are not identical; for example, where triple-spaced material isbe ng condensed into a double-spaced sheet. Manual operation is alsorequired where there is a substantial d sparity in the Width of the copysheet and the sheet being typed, so that a line on the copy sheet is notequivalent to a line on the sheet being typed. I

A slight modification of this embodlment is shown 1n Figure 8. As thereshown, end brackets 10 are mounted upon bail bar 11, and are locked inplace by means of set screws 16 just as in the preferred embodiment. Inthis modification, however, the spring clips 30 are omitted and theirfunction is performed by trough segments 40. The trough segments 40 aregenerally U-shaped, and are mounted upon end brackets 10 in any suitablemanner. The troughs generally surround the lower portlon of the copyroll, outwardly from the bail rolls, and are provided with a turned edge41 to receive the copy paper 35 as it is fed into the trough beforepassing between the bail rolls and copy roll. The trough also includesan upper edge 42 which is effective to exert a slight pressure on thepaper after it has passed over the front portion of the copy roller. Thetrough is thus eifectlve to channel the copy sheet around the copyroller, and to hold it against that roller to assure a smooth surfacefor easy reading.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of my invention whichis substantially s1m1lar to the preferred embodiment, except that thetwo spring clips 30 and stay rollers 33 are omitted. Their funct on, ofholding the copy sheet against the copy roller, is performed is thisembodiment by an auxiliary roller 45. The auxiliary roller 45 is mountedupon a shaft 46 which extends parallel to the copyholder shaft 18, andis disposed behind that shaft. Shaft 46 is journaled in U-shapedextensions 47 of end brackets 4848. Extensions 47 include a longitudinalbearing slot 50 parallel to the longitudmal slideway 51 in which bearingblock 52 is mounted.

The auxiliary roller rests freely in the slot, the only force it exertsagainst the copy roller being due to the weight of the auxiliary roller.Two collars 53-53 are mounted on shaft 46 just inwardly from endbrackets 48 to prevent sideways movement of the shaft. A catch 54 ispivotally mounted as at 55 adjacent the lower edge of each of the endmembers 48. Catch 54 is configurated to include a straight edge 56disposed for alignment with the edge of the slots when the catch isclosed, and a curved lip 57 which extends over the top edge of the slotto prevent the escape of shaft 46 when the catch is closed. If it isdesired to remove the auxiliary roller, catches 54 are turned to theiropen portion, indicated at 58 allowing shaft 46 to be lifted from theslot.

The end brackets 48 are also provided with. guidestrips upon the copyroll.

60 extending parallel to the copy roller 12 along the line rearwardlythereof and substantially beneath the auxiliary roll. Guide strips 60function to support copy sheet 35 before it passes between the copy roll12 and hail rollers 13. The guide strips 60 may either be fastenedintegrally with end members 48 or alternatively may be bolted to thelower edge thereof as by bolts 61. In this embodiment the copy sheet 35first passes over guide strip 60, then between the copy roll 12 and hailrollers 14, around the copy roll and then passes rearwardly between copyroll 12 and auxiliary roll 45. The remainder of the copy holding device,and its manner of operation, are identical with the preferredembodiment.

A still further modification of the copyholding device is shown inFigure 9. As there shown, the end brackets 65 are mounted upon the bailbar 11 as in the preferred embodiment, and carry copy roll shaft 18 infloating journal blocks 66. These blocks are spring-urged upwardlyagainst the lower edge of set screws 26 as in the preferred embodiment.An auxiliary roller 67, mounted upon shaft 68, is also carried by theend brackets for keeping the copy paper taut against roller 12. In thismodification, the end brackets are provided with a front arm 70 and arear arm 71, which together with the side walls 72 and 73 of the mainbracket form slots 74 and 75. Shaft 68, carrying the auxiliary roller,can be inserted in either of these slots, and will rest slightly againstthe copy roll. If desired, catches such as those shown in Figures 5 to 7may be provided to prevent the auxiliary roller from being accidentallylifted out of the slot. One of the advantages of supporting theauxiliary roller in the forward slot 74, is that it obscures the printedmaterial lying on the upper edge of the copy roll, so that only the linebeing actually copied is visible to the typist. This tends to reduceerrors which might occur from the typists eyes jumping from one line tothe other, if more than one line were exposed The manner of operation ofthis embodiment is identical with that of the embodiments previouslydescribed.

The modified form of the copyholder device illustrated in Figures and 11is designed to be removably attached to the bail bar of a typewriter.Referring to Figure 10, a typewriter, which is shown fragmentarily only,is designated 76. The typewriter shown is intended to be representativeonly, inasmuch as the copyholder illustrated is adapted to be mountedupon any typewriter having a conventional bail bar. In this figure thetypewriter platen roll is indicated at 77, the bail bar is indicated at78, and the bail rolls indicated at 79-79. The copyholder is mountedupon the bail bar by means of a pair of end brackets designated 80-80.

Each end bracket includes a first arm 81 which is adapted to be engagedupon the bail bar in clamping relationship. The first arm isconfigurated to provide a seat 82 which is adapted to embrace the bailbar. The arm is slotted as at 83 inwardly of seat 82 and is configuratedoutwardly of seat 82 to provide a throat 84. The arm also is threaded ata place inwardly of seat 82 in order to receive a clamping screw 85. Thescrew 85 traverses the arm in a direction at right angles to the slot 83and may be tightened and loosened to clamp and unclamp the first armonto the bail bar. The end of the first arm opposite to the throat 84has a pin 86 therein which journals a second arm 87 of the bracket. Thesecond arm is normally urged in a clockwise direction as illustrated inFigure 11 by means of a safety-pin spring 88, which spring is loopedaround pin 86 with one arm thereof engaged in bracket arm -81 and thesecond arm thereof engaged under bracket arm 87.

The copy roll in the modified form is indicated at 90. This roll ismounted upon a shaft 91, the opposite ends of which are journalled inthe respective, pivoted or second arms 87 of the two end brackets 80-30.Just as in the other forms of the invention knobs 92-92 may be providedfor hand manipulation of the copy roll. At the respective front and backsides of the copy roll 90 snapon stay rods 93 and 94 are provided toguide the copy sheet which is designated 95. The respective oppositeends of each stay rod are journalled in notches 96-96 which are cut intothe upper faces of the respective arms 87 of the end brackets. The stayrods are disposed parallel to the copy roll and are spaced therefrom soas to maintain the copy sheet at the rear of the copy roll above thetyping sheet, and so as to present the copy sheet at the front thereonin position for easy reading. Both of the stay rods at each end thereofare removably held in the notches 96 by means of a pair of leaf springs97-97. Each leaf spring is riveted to the top of the arm 87 of an endbracket and has its opposite ends shaped to receive and clamp the stayrods in the notches 96 in snap-fit relation.

The copyholder device of the modification just described operates insubstantially the identical way to the ones illustrated in Figures 1-9.The copy sheet is inserted underneath of the copy roll at the rear,passes between the copy roll and the bail rolls 79-79, and threadsupwardly between the copy roll and the stay rod 93 which is at the frontof the device. As will be seen in Figure 10, the stay rod at the frontof the device is positioned so as to provide a guide for the line oftype on the sheet being copied.

The present copyholder attachment, in its preferred or modified forms,can be installed on any typewriter having a conventional bail assembly.The only change which might be required is the use of a longer copy rollshaft on typewriters having an exceptionally long carriage. No otherchanges are necessary in the remaining elements of the device, whetherit is to be installed on a standard typewriter, a portable typewriter,or one having a special length carriage. When installing the copyholderon any typewriter, the end brackets are generally locked in place on thebail bar a short distance inwardly from the ends of the platen, so thatthe copyholder device is adapted to support copy sheets of substantiallythe same width as the widest paper which the carriage can accommodate.

Furthermore, the entire weight of the copyholder assembly is relativelysmall, and does not affect the normal operation of the typewriter. Sincethe copyholder is entirely supported by the bail bar, its light weightis essential; any excessive weight upon the bail bar increases thefrictional engagement of the bail rollers with the sheet being typed,retarding the normal advancement of that sheet, causing it to bunch up.This results in uneven spacing of the typewritten lines and even skewingof the lines upon the sheet.

The rigid mounting of the copyholder upon the bail bar prevents anyrelative movement of the copyholder and carriage assembly. As a result,there is a steady, reliable friction drive from the platen through thebail rolls to the copy roll. This assures even advancement of the copypaper in an amount equal to the advancement of the sheet being typedover the platen. This even advancement occurs despite the normalvibrations of the typewriter carriage, and the jarring accompanying theshifting of the carriage back and forth.

The mounting of the copy roll within the end brackets by means offloating bearings facilitates the correct relative positioning the ofthe copy roll relative to bail rolls, so that sufficient frictionalengagement is obtained between these two rolls without causing excessivedrag or retardation of the bail rolls, resulting in bunching of thecarriage roll paper and sticking or uneven advancement of the copypaper.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A copyholder attachment for a typewriter having a rotatable papercarrying platen, a bail bar, 'bail rollers mounted upon said bail bar,said bail rollers normally being in engagement with the paper carried bysaid platen, said copyholder comprising a pair of end brackets, each ofsaid end brackets being mounted upon said bail bar, a shaft, :1 copyroll mounted upon said shaft, bearings for journalingsaid shaft, saidend brackets being configurated toiform aislideway for "slidablyreceiving saidibearings, a springxmounted within said slidewayzforurgingrsaid bearingsout-wardly from-;said-bail bar, screw;meansfor-adjustably restrainingithe outward movement of said-bearings-wherebythetrelative position of the copyroll andbail rolls maybe selectivelyv-aried.

2. A-copyholder:attachmentafor a-typewriter having a rotatable papercarrying platen, a bail :ban'bail rollers mounted upon said bail bar,:sa-id :bail :rol-lers normally "being-in engagement with;paper'carriedby said platen, said copyholder comprisingta pair of end brackets,-.each:of ;said zendbrackets being mounted upon said bail :bar,means:for:holdingssaidcbrackets in place upon said bail bar, a shaft, acopy roll mounted upon said shaft.

said copy:rollzbeing'ofisubstantiallydhe same size as said bail roll,saidibearingstbeing:slidably:mounted.in-said end brackets:for'movementtoward andaawayzfrom said bail bar, Jmeans associated with said:brackets :for adjustably resisting i the movement *of :said ibearingsaway from "said bail bar.

3. A ;copyh'older aatttachment for :a typewriter :havingaxrotatabletpaper carrying platenga baillbar, ihail rollers mountedupon-said 'bailibar, said'bail rollers normally being in engagement withthe paper carried by saidrplaten, saidrcopyholdertcomprisinga pair ofend brackets, each of saidzendbrackets :beingmo-unted upon said'bailbar, a shaft, a copy roll mounted upon said shaft, bearings forjournaling-saids'shaft; said end brackets being configurated to form aslideway fonslidably receivingsaid bearings, a spring m011ntdiWlthl11S3id slideway for urging said bearings=outwardlyfrom 'said bail bar,means carried' by said end brackets for adjustablyrestraining theoutward movement of said bearings whereby the relative position of thecopy roll and bail rollsmay be selectively varied.

*4. A eopyholder attachment for a typewriter having a rotatable papercarrying platen, a bail bar, bail rollers mounted .upon said .bail bar,said bail rollers normally being.in;engagement'withithepaper carried bysaid .platen, saidacopyholder comprising a ;pair of end brackets, eachof tsa-id'end brackets being mounted upon-said baihbar, a shaft, a copy.roll mounted upon'said shaft, bearings for journalingzsaidzshaft, saidend brackets being configurated to form a-slideway for:.slidablyreceiving said bearings, a springimounted-within-said slideway fonurgingsaid bearings outwardly'from the-said bail bar, means-carried by saidendbraeketstfor adjustably restraining'theoutward movement of saidbearings whereby-the relative :position of the copy roll and bail rollsmaybe selectively varied, and means mounted on saidbracketsfor-urgingthe copy paper againstisaidrcopy roll.

5. A copyholder attachment for a typewriter having a rotatable papercarrying L-platen, a bail bar, bail rollers mounted upon said bail 'bar,said 'bail rollers normally being'in engagement with-thepaperscarr'iedby said-platen, said copyholder:comprisingza pair of end brackets, meansfor releasablytclampingsaid'rendrbrackets to said :bail'bar adjacent: tothe respective oppositeends thereof, a sha'ft, a copy roll mounted uponsaid shaft, said copytroll being cf substantially the same diameter asthe bail rollers, means for journalling the respective opposite ends:ofsaid shaft in the respective end brackets with said'shaft disposedparallel'to said bail bar, and means carriedc'by said brackets forpositioning sai'dvcopy roll relative 'to said bail rollers,'said lastnamed means'resisting movement of said copy roll away fromsaid-bail-rollers.

ReferencesCited in the'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,009,455 Utsch Nov. 121, 19.11 1,227,436 Hendrix May 22, 1917 1,285,242.Krueger Nov. 19,1918 2,442,811 Hoover June 8, ,1948

